Sewing device



Jan. 15, 1963 1:..1. mass ETAL 3,073,311

SEWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2. 1959 2 Shqets-Sheet 1 Br. 551 w Jan. 15,1963 D. J. was Em, 3,073,311

SEWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States PatentOffice 3,673,311 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 3,073,311 SEWING DEVICE DavidJohn Tibbs, Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and William George Leslie,Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, assignors to National ResearchDevelopment Corporation, London, England, a corporation of Great BritainFiled Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,321 Claims priority, application GreatBritain Nov. 7, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 128-340) This invention relates toapparatus for holding needles when sewing and particularly but notexclusively for holding needles when making stitches for joiningtogether the adjacent edges of a cut in the tissue of a body.

An object of the present invention in its broadest aspect is to provideneedle holding apparatus which can be mechanically or manually operatedto carry out the sequence of operations involved in normal handstitching without the need for handling the needle.

According to the invention there is provided needle holding apparatuscomprising two gripping devices capable of gripping a needle at twolocations spaced along its length, means for moving the first grippingdevice into an advanced gripping position, means for operating the firstgripping device to grip the needle, means for moving the second grippingdevice into an advanced gripping position, means for operating thesecond gripping device to grip the needle, means for releasing andretracting the first gripping device, means for moving the firstgripping device back into an advanced gripping position, means foroperating the first gripping device again to grip the needle and meansfor releasing and retracting the second gripping device.

According to a further feature of the invention there is also includedmeans for causing movement of a pressing member back and forth along apath extended from a position beyond the point of the needle to aposition between the two ends of a needle gripped in at least one of thegripping devices.

The pressing member may also serve to steady the needle at a positionbetween the gripping positions when the grip is being transferred fromone gripping device to the other.

When stitches are required to be inserted in cuts-made in the body of ananimal, during a surgical operation for instance, it may be difficult orawkward to maintain a secure hold on the needle. This is especially thecase when stitches are required near the base of a'deep incision.

In order to facilitate the manipulation of a small needle in someoperating techniques, it is necessary to use a pair of special forcepsto hold the needle and a second pair of forceps for picking it up sothat both hands are occupied. This can be extremely difficult in aconfined position and in any case one hand could be used to greatadvantage in performing some other function, while the other handperformed the stitching.

The embodiments of the invention described below are those developed forsurgical use, but it will be appreciated that the invention can also beapplied to the stitching of,

various materials, such as cloth, when a reproduction of the effect ofhand stitching will be obtained.

The invention will be more readily understood by the,

following description of certain embodiments, by way of example, inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of one embodiment of the invention with part ofthe outer'casing removed;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation in the direction of the arrow A in FIGURE lwith part of theouter casing removed;

B in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a modified form of the gripping device illustrated in FIGURE4;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the invention withpart of the casing removed;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation in the direction of the arrow C in FIGURE 8with part of the outer casing removed;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of a part of FIGURE 9 on an enlarged scaleshowing one of the gripping devices and FIGURE 11 is a front view of adetail of FIGURE 2 in an enlarged scale in the direction of thearrow D.

The apparatus as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is for use in holdingcurved needles, as are generally used insurgical sewing. Such needlesare generally flattened on the inner and outer aspects at the curve toprevent rotation of the-needle inthe gripping devices. A tubular casing1, 'part of which is shown cut away for clarity, has a handle 2 fixed atone end. Theother end of the casing is closed by an end piece 3 fastenedinto the end of the casing by any convenient means, preferably so'thatit can" be dismantled for cleaning or repair etc. Projecting from theend piece 3 and fastened rigidly thereto is "a support member 4. Twoslides 5 and 6 project through and are supported in the end piece intothe interior of the casing I, slide 5 being supported also in a crossmember'=7- fastened inside the casing. Slide 6 is also supportedinpartial side elevation of a modification cross member 7 and also in afurther 'cross member 8,

both slides being free to slide axially within the casing 1." The slide5 is urged in a direction towards the handle '2' by a spring 9, thespring abutting against the end piece 3' and a pin 23 securely fastenedin the slide. Slide 6is' urged in a direction 'awayfrom the handle by aspring 10, the spring abutting against'cross member 7 and a pin 11securely'fastened in the slide. Spring 10 is arranged to be strongerthan spring 9 and in its final actionsufficiently strong to give anadequate grip upon the needle; Formed on the slide 6 in a positionintermediate the two cross members 7 and 8 is a bracket 12. The

1 gagement by the fingers of the operator and a tongue 16 projectingupwards inside the casing 1. The end of the tongue 16 engages that endof the slide 5 which is within the casing. When the trigger is pulledrearwards,- as the spring 10 is stronger than spring 9, slide 6 willinitially remain stationary, the trigger turning on pin 13 and thetongue 16 urging slide 5 forwards in a direction away from the handle.

When the slide 5 has reached its most forward positioncontinued movementof the trigger rearwards will cause the trigger to pivot on the end ofthe slide 5 and slide 6 will be urged rearwards, in a direction towardsthe handle. Release of the trigger will first of all allow slide 6 toreturn to its original position under the action ofthe spring 1%. Whenthe slide 6 has reached its original position, then slide 5 will returntoits original position under the action of the spring 9.

Attached to the forward end ofthe support member 4- are two grippingdevices 17 and 18. The gripping devices are mounted so that they willgrip the curved needle at two places on its arc approximately apart,and'areoperated by rods 19 and 20 respectively. Rod 19 is connected tothe slide by a forked joint 21 and the rod 20 is connected to the slide6 by a similar forked joint 22. The to and fro movements of the slides 5and 6 and rods 19 and 20 operate the jaws of the gripping devices bymeans of toggle mechanisms. It will be seen that the gripping device 18is normally in its advanced gripping position under the action of thespring 10.

The action and construction of the gripping devices will be more easilyunderstood by reference to FIGURES 4 and 5 which illustrate one of thegripping devices on an enlarged scale. The scale device comprises twojaws 30 and 31, jaw 30 being formed with two extensions 32 and 33,projecting approximately at right angles to the jaw and parallel to eachother, the ends of which are pivoted at 34 on an extension 35 formed onthe support member 4. Jaw 31 is pivotally mounted at 36 between theextensions 32, 33, and has an extension 37 projecting rearwards. A link38 is also pivotally mounted at one end on the extension 35 of thesupport member 4, the other end of the link being pivotally connected at39 to the end of the extension 37 of the jaw 31. A fork member 40 formedon the end of the rod 19 is also pivotally connected at the connection39 of the link and the jaw extension. The construction thus acts as atoggle mechanism in that forward movement of the rod 19 towards the jawscauses pivot point 39 to move forward, this also causing the jaws tomove forward. As they do so jaw 30 pivots about 34 in one direction andjaw 31 pivots about 36 in the other direction, the jaws gripping anyarticle which is between them. Reverse movement of the rod 19 opens thejaws.

In order to ensure that the needle, when being used, is free ofobstruction before transferring the grip from gripping device 18 togripping device 17, and also to steady the needle while the transfer ofgrip is taking place, a pressing member 41 may be provided. The pressingmember is rotatably supported on the support member 4 by bearings 42 and43 and also in the end piece 3, and cross members 7 and 8. On therearward end of the pressing member there is fixed a bevel gear 44 whichengages with a further bevel gear 45 supported on a shaft 46 supportedat right angles to the pressing member in the casing 1. The pressingmember is operated by a secoind trigger 47 which causes a slide 48 toslide axially inside the casing 1. The slide 48 is urged forward in adirection away from the handle 2 by a spring 49. At the rearward end ofthe slide 48 there is pivoted one end of a cranked rod 50 the other endof which engages a slot 51 in lever 52 rigidly connected to the bevelgear 45. When the trigger 47 is pulled back by the operator, slide 48 ispushed back so that the cranked rod 50 rotates the lever 52 and thus thebevel gear 45 about the shaft 46. Rotation of the bevel gear 45 rotatesthe bevel gear 44 and also the pressing member 41. The pressing memberhas a short portion 53 bent at right angles. Rotation of the pressingmember causes the bent portion to sweep round and press down anyobstructing tissue etc. on the needle.

As an aid to inserting a needle before using the apparatus, a springloaded button 54 is located on the casing 1. Pressing the button inwardscauses the end 55 of the shaft of the button to enter a hole 56 in theslide 5 and thus lock it stationary. Operation of the trigger will thencause movement of the slide 6 only, which will open the gripping device18 for the initial insertion of a needle.

The apparatus operates as follows. A threaded needle is inserted ingripping device 18, the gripping device holding the needle adjacent tothe eye end and the point curving round towards the other grippingdevice. Gripping device 18, as stated before, is normally in the closedor gripping position under the action of the spring 10, slide 6 and rodwhile device 17 is normally in the open and retracted position. Theneedle is pushed through the tissue until the gripping device 18prevents further move ment. Trigger 47 is pulled back and the pressingmember 41 rotates causing the portion 53 to press down any tissueadhering to the point of the needle. With the trigger 47 retained in itsrearward position the trigger 15 is pulled back. During the initialmovement backwards of the trigger 15 it turns about pivot 13 and thetongue 16 pushes the slide 5 forward together with the rod 19. Thisforward movement of the rod causes the gripping device 17 to moveforward into its gripping position, the two jaws cooperating to grip theneedle at a position adjacent to the point, the portion 53 of thepressing member steadying the needle. When the jaws of the gripperdevice 17 are gripping the needle, the rod 19 and thus the slide 5cannot move any further forward so that further movement of the trigger15 backward will cause it to pivot on the end of the slide 5 and pullthe slide 6 backwards together with red 20. The movement of the rod 20backwards will cause the jaws of the gripping device 18 to release theneedle, the gripping device moving: backwards and thus allowing theneedle to be pulled right through the tissue and draw away therefrom totighten the stitch. In readiness for a further stitch the reverse of theabove procedure is followed. The trigger is slowly released, gripperdevice 18 moving forward and gripping the eye end of the needle, whichis steadied by the pressing member, the gripping member 17 thenreleasing the point end of the needle and retracting clear. Finally thepressing member rotates back when the trigger 47 is released.

In an alternative construction the pressing member has the end of theportion 53 formed into a suitable shape such as a loop which maysurround or partially surround the needle when it is moved into itsoperating position.

The operating slide 48 of the pressing member 41 could be coupled to thetrigger 15 so that the initial movement of the trigger operated theslide 48 and rotating the pressing member, further movement operatingthe gripping devices as previously described. This alternative is shownin FIGURE 6. In this figure the same items are given the same referencenumbers as in the previous example. The tongue 16 of the trigger 15 isextended so as to engage slide 48 through spring 60 and the brackets 61formed on either side of the slide 48. A clearance is provided betweenthe tongue 16 and the end of the slide 5. Initial movement of thetrigger will cause the slide 48 to move forward against the action ofthe return spring 63, rotating the bevel gear 45 by means of the lever52 and cranked pin 50. This will cause rotation of the pressing member41. Boss 62 on the slide 48 will then engage with cross member 8 andprevent further movement of the slide. As the trigger is pulled furtherback the tongue 16 will engage the end of the slide 5 and the operationof the gripping devices will be as previously described. The spring 60allows for the further movement of the tongue 16 after the boss 62engages the cross member.

In some cases it will not be necessary to have a pressing member toclear obstructions from the needle and it can then be omitted. It maythen be advisable to provide some other means of ensuring that theneedle is correctly positioned, and steadied, when the grip istransferred from one gripping device to the other. A simple addition fordoing this is shown in FIGURE 7. A hook shaped member 65 is pivotallysupported at one end on a support 66 rigidly attached to the extension35 so that its hooked end is adjacent to the ends of the jaws 30 and 31.A slot 67 is formed in the main part of the member 65, a pin 68 rigidlyattached to the extension 32 engaging in the slot 67 and forming afurther pivot. In operation, as the rod 19 moves forward to actuate thegripping device by moving the jaws 30 and 31 forward, the pin 68 slidesforward in the slot 67 causing the hooked member 65 to pivot at its endand about the pin. The hooked part 69 swings downward and steadies theneedle in the correct position before the jaws finally grip it.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of the inmam vention which is amodified form of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A large part ofthe apparatus is unchanged and similar reference numbers have been usedfor those items which are common to both embodiments.

As before, a casing 1 has a handle 2, and contains within it two slides5 and 6. Two springs 9 and 10 are similarly provided and operate in asimilar manner as described above. A trigger 14 is also provided, againoperating in the same manner as described above. The main points ofdifference in the present embodiment are in the mounting and operatingof the gripping devices. The end piece 3 carries a support member 70,the support member having two extensions 71 and 72 extending sideways atits end, the extensions being drilled, parallel to the support member,to provide two support bearings. Supported in the support bearings aretwo support rods 73 and 74, and attached to the ends of the supportrods, remote from the casing 1, are gripping devices 75 and 76, onegripping device on the end of each rod. Thus the gripping devices aremounted on movable supports instead of being mounted on a rigid supportmember, this being one of the main points of difference. The form of thegripping devices can be more readily seen in FIGURE 10 which is a sideview of the gripping device 76 on an enlarged scale, with the jaws inthe open, or released, position. The gripping device comprises one jaw81) which is formed on the support rod 74, and a further jaw 81,pivotally mounted on the support rod and actuated by an operating rod82. The jaw 81 is of hooked formation, the hooked end 83 forming the jawportion and the shank 84 being slit for the insertion of a tongue 85formed on th end of the operating rod 74, the tongue being pivotallyconnected to the jaw 81 by a pin 86. The support rod is grooved on eachside behind the jaw 80 to provide a thin portion 87 which also fits inthe slit shank 84 of the jaw 81. The shank is pivotally connected to thethin portion 87 by a pin 88. The end face 89 of the jaw 89 and the innerface 90 of the jaw portion 83 are shaped so that when the operating rodis moved forward the faces 89 and 9t} will cooperate to grip the needle.The faces 89 and 90 may be fiat or may have cooperating ridges andgrooves or other formations formed on them to increase the efliciency ofthe grip. The gripping device 75 is similar in form and is actuated byan operating rod 91. The operating rods 82 and 91 are connected to theslides 6 and 5 respectively. These operating rods are similar to therods 19 and 21} in FIGURE 1 but are each in two pieces joined byconnecting means 92 by which the rods 82 and 91 can be rotated throughan angle relative to the slides. The purpose of this connection will beexplained below. At the outer end of each of the slides 5 and 6 areformed lugs 93 and 94, the lugs extending downwards each having aforward facing spigot 95, 9'6 which are in line with the inner ends ofthe relative support rod. Formed on each rod, near their inner ends arecollars 97 and 98 which form abutments for springs 99 and 190 which fitover the ends of the support rods and over the spigots 95 and 96, beingheld between the lugs 93 and 94 and the collars 97 and 98, to form alost motion device.

The lost motion device forms the other main point of difference betweenthe present embodiment and the one described above. In the previouslydescribed embodiment, the jaws of the gripping devices were moving allthe time the gripping devices were being advanced or retracted. Thisarrangement did not always provide a perfect gripping action as movementof the gripping device occurred, relative to the needle, as the jawsgripped the needle. In the present arrangement the gripping devices aremoved forward to their final gripping position before the jaws areoperated. the apparatus acting as follows. Starting from the positionshown in FIGURES 8 and 9 in which the gripping device 76 is in theengaged position, the portion of the trigger 14 is pulled backwardspivoting about the pivot 13. With the initial movement of the trigger,the slide 5 is pushed forward and both the support rod 73 and theoperating rod 91 move forward until the gripping device 75 is in thecorrect forward gripping position. This position is controlled by thecollar 97 on the support rod 73. When the collar engages the end face ofthe extension 71 of the support member 79, further forward movement ofthe support rod is prevented. Further movement of the slide 5 forwardcompresses the spring 99 held between the lug 93 and the collar 97 theoperating rod 77 moving forward and closing the jaws of the grippingdevice 75. No further forward movement of the slide 5 can occur, so thaton continued pulling back of the trigger portion 15 the trigger willpivot on the end of the slide 5 and will pull back the slide 6. Oninitial movement of the slide 6, the support rod 74 will remain in theforward position under the action of the spring 100 between the collar98 on the support rod and the lug 94 on the slide 6, the springexpanding as the slide moves back, the operating rod also movingrearwards and opening the gripping device 76. When the jaws of thegripping device are fully open further movement of the operating rodrelative to the supporting rod cannot occur and the support rod ispulled rearwards, the gripping device moving out of engagement with theneedle. The grip has thus been transferred from one end of the needle tothe other.

Reverse operation of the trigger portion 15, reverses the operationsequence described above. The slide 6 together with the support rod 74and the operating rod 78 move forward into the gripping position, whenthe collar 98 on the support rod 74 engages the end face of theextension 72. The operating rod then moves further forward closing thegripping device 76, the spring 109 between the lug 94 and collar 98being compressed. Slide 6 cannot move further forward so that thetrigger pivots on the end of the slide 6, slide 5 moving rearwards. Thismovement of the slide 5 first moves the operating rod 77 rearward, thesupport rod 73 being held in the forward position by the spring 99between the collar 97 on the support rod 73 and the lug 93, the jaws ofthe gripping device 75 opening. When the jaws of the gripping device 75are fully open, further movement of the operating rod 77 relative to thesupport rod 73 and the support rod is pulled rearwards the grippingdevice moving rearwards out of engagement with the needle.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the

pressing member 53 in FIGURE 1, with its operating mechanism, has beenomitted. However, it will be seen that such a member and operatingmechanism can easily be fitted.

Instead of a spring loaded button as shown at 54 in FIGURE 1, a springlever as shown at in FIGURE 8 may be provided, for assisting in theinitial insertion of the needle.

In the description of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9,reference was made to the operating rods 82 and 91 each being in twopieces joined by connecting means 92. FIGURE 12 shows a front view ofone of these connecting means. It comprises a plate 101 segmental inshape, which is rigidly attached at its narrow end 102 to that piece ofthe operating rod which is connected to the slide and has two drilledand tapped holes 103 at the wide end, the two holes being equally spacedon either side of the center axis. An arm 104 is rigidly attached at oneend to the other piece of the operating rod, and is drilled at its otherend so that a screw 105 can be passed through the hole and be screwedinto one or other of the two holes in the plate 101. By assembling thesupport rods and operating rods so that the center axis of each plate191 is vertical and with the gripping devices at the same angles as thearms 104 on the operating rods, the angle of the gripping devices can beeither so that they grip a curved needle with its center of curvatureabove the gripping devices or below with the handle downwards. Theapparatus can then readily be used for sewing from right to left withthe handle and trigger downwards and the center of curvature of theneedle above the gripping devices or for sewing from left to right withthe handle and trigger upwards and the center of curvature of the needlestill downwards (but now on the other side of the gripping devices).

It can also be arranged that the gripping devices themselves move toperform the sewing action. This can be done by rotating the supportmember together with the gripping devices, whilst the casing is keptstationary, the provision of suitable joints at the ends of the rods 19and 2t) and 82 and 91, allowing this rotation without materiallyaffecting the action of the gripping devices. Alternatively the casing1, together with the slides, gripping devices, etc. could be enclosedwithin a second casing and be capable of rotation within this secondcasing. In this case the handle 2, provided, would be fastened to thesecond casing.

Where straight needles are used a similar construction can be adopted,but with the gripping devices mounted on the support member parallel toeach other so that they will grip the needle at positions spaced apartalong its length. The distance apart of the gripping devices can be madeto suit the length of the needle to be held. Suitable joints at each endof the rods will enable them to operate the gripping devicessatisfactorily even if the slides and their rods were not in exactalignment.

As indicated above the invention is applicable to the reproduction ofthe effect of hand stitching by mechanical means when sewing materialsuch as cloth. In an apparatus designed for this application the needleholding assembly is held in, or forms part of, a machine so that atleast the support member and the needle gripping devices can be moved toinsert the needle into the material and withdraw it therefrom. Thematerial to be sewn is passed over a table or support, material holdingmeans and advancing means being provided as in a conventional sewingmachine. A slot is provided in the table or support so that as theneedle holding assembly, or the support member with the grippingdevices, is manipulated to insert the needle, the latter will pass intothe material and emerge therefrom at a position spaced from the entryposition as in hand sewing. The slides etc. are then caused to operatethe gripping devices so that the gripping position on the needle istransferred from the eye end to the point end, the needle holdingassembly being then pulled away from the starting point to withdraw theneedle from the material. Reverse operation of the slides etc. will thencause the grips on the needle to be transferred back to the eye end, andthe needle holding assembly to be moved to the starting position, readyfor a further stitch. Some arrangement should preferably be made to pullup or tighten the slack thread behind the needle.

The above embodiments of the invention have been described in relationto the use of a needle with the eye at the end remote from the point. Itshould be noted that and the pressing member 41 where 8 the apparatuscan also be used with a needle of which the eye is at the pointed end.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for holding needles comprising a casing, a first and asecond sliding member mounted for axial movement in said casing, anoperating member pivotally mounted on the first of said sliding membersand operatively connected to the second of said sliding members, twodevices for gripping needles operable to close and open and supported bysaid casing, two linking means one each operatively linking one of saidgripping devices to one of said sliding members, and biassing meanstending to close one of said gripping devices and open the other of saidgripping devices, said biassing means interconnecting said slidingmembers so that actuation of said operating device serves to operateselectively one of said sliding members and ultimately to alternativelyactuate one of said gripping devices.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said gripping devicescomprises a pair of pivoted jaws.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said operating member is atrigger, said trigger being pivoted on one of said sliding members andmoving the other of said sliding members, and said linking meansincluding two axially movable parallel operating rods, each of said rodsbeing connected to one of said gripping devices at one end and to one ofsaid sliding members at the other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said linking means includestwo axially movable operating rods lying parallel to one another, eachof said rods being connected to one each of said gripping devices andoperably associated with said operating member by means of said slidingmembers, each of said gripping devices being mounted to move with itsassociated said operating rod so that operation of said gripping deviceby said operating memher through said sliding member moves saidoperating rod associated with said gripping device away from said casingas said gripping device closes and towards said casing as said grippingdevice opens.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a lost motion device in saidlinking means of each of said gripping devices to said operating member,said lost motion device constituting means providing first movement ofone of said gripping devices and its associated said operating rod awayfrom said casing without said gripping device operating upon actuationof said operating member to close said one gripping device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,131,163 Saunders et al Mar. 9, 1915 1,155,378 Steedman Oct. 5, 19152,601,564 Smith June 24, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 337,579 France Feb. 24,1904

1. APPARATUS FOR HOLDING NEEDLES COMPRISING A CASING, A FIRST AND ASECOND SLIDING MEMBER MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT IN SAID CASING, ANOPERATING MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FIRST OF SAID SLIDING MEMBERSAND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SECOND OF SAID SLIDING MEMBERS, TWODEVICES FOR GRIPPING NEEDLES OPERABLE TO CLOSEE AND OPEN AND SUPPORTEDBY SAID CASING, TWO LINKING MEANS ONE EACH OPERATIVELY LINKING ONE OFSAID GRIPPING DEVICES TO ONE OF SAID SLIDING MEMBERS, AND BIASSING MEANSTENDING TO CLOSE ONE OF SAID GRIPPING DEVICES AND OPEN THE OTHER OF SAIDGRIPPING DEVICES, SAID BIASSING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SLIDINGMEMBERS SO THAT ACTUATION OF SAID OPERATING DEVICE SERVES TO OPERATESELECTIVELY ONE OF SAID SLIDING MEMBERS AND ULTIMATELY TO ALTERNATIVELYACTUATE ONE OF SAID GRIPPING DEVICES.